Safety razor with edge positioning means



1964 J. SCHNEIDERMAN 3,121,286

SAFETY RAZOR WITH EDGE POSITIONING MEANS Filed July 26, 1961 FIG. 1

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IN V EN TOR. Joseph Schnezderman Flaw Z MZ H l st" s This invention relates to improvements in safety razors to facilitate trimming of the sideburns, as the term is commonly understood.

In shaving the face it is virtually impossible for a man to trim his sideburns in a manner providing a horizontal termination, since the eyes are incapable of providing a reliable reference for this phase of the shave. By horizontal: termination I; refer to a straight line which is horizontal with reference to the ground when the individual is standing erect.

The present invention relates to means which may be readily incorporated with presently known types of safety razors, whether of the so-called single edge or double edge. varieties, and which will provide a visual or audible indication that the edge of the blade is in position to provide the desired horizontal trim to the sideburns, based on the individual holding his head erect during the process.

In accordance with the invention the means just referred to is incorporated as a part of the razor handle and, where the connection between the head and handle is a threaded stud, is arranged to substitute for the conventional handle. In those models of safety razors wherein the clamping of the two parts of the head is through the medium of a connection passing through the handle or wherein blade adjusting means are a part of the handle the invention may be embodied in a cartridge adapted to be secured, temporarily or permanently, to one side of the handle.

Broadly regarded the invention comprehends, in combinationwith a razor, of a handle or an adjunct securable to the handle which incorporates a switch responsive to the position of thehandle in space, ie a switch whose operation is dependent upon the position of the edge of the blade in order that, when such edge is horizontal the switch is closed. A dry cell and lamp are connected in series with the switch so that, when the latter is closed, the lamp is lit to indicate that the razor is being held in the desired position. An appropriate transparent or translucent window is provided opposite the lamp. Optionally an on-off switch may be provided to interrupt the circuit when the razor is not in use to avoid waste of the battery. The arrangement is such that presently available miniature components may be employed thereby to result in a handle or adjunct not substantially bulkier than the conventional handle. Audible means, such as a buzzer, may be substituted for the lamp. 7

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which, taken with the accompanying drawing discloses a preferred form which the invention may assume in practice.

In this drawing:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross section through a razor embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view taken in the direction of the arrows 2-2 of FIG. 1;

PEG. 3 is a cross section taken on the line 3 3 of FIG. 1;

PEG. 4 is a cross section taken on the line 4--4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross section taken on the line 55 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a cross section taken on the line 66 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a detail in cross section of a mercury switch for sensing the position of the razor in space;

Patented Feb. 18, 1334 FIG. 8 is a detail similar to that of FIG. 7 but viewed in a plane displaced therefrom;

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of the electrical circuitry; and

FIG. 1G is a plan view showing the principles of the invention incorporated in an accessory for detachable securement to a razor.

Turning now to the drawings there is shown a safety razor including a head 1d and a handle 1 1. The head shown is of a common type, popularly referred to as the Gillette, and includes outer and inner clamping plates 14 and 15 to grip a double-edged blade 16. A stud 17 extends from the plate 14 through a hole in the inner plate 15' and is threaded for connection with the handle. Pilot pins (not shown) align the clamping plates and, blade, as is welbknown.

The handle ll includes a body portion 19 desirably of plastic or other electrically-insulating material and is preferably of rectangular transverse cross section for purposes to appear. At its right hand end a metal insert 2.1 is embedded which is provided with a threaded hole to receive the stud 17, whereby the handle, blade and clamping plates may be locked together. In accordance with the invention a predetermined relation must be effected between the longitudinal axis of the handle, regarded rotationally, and the cutting edge or edges of the blade. Accordingly to accomplish proper alignment of the head and handle a bowed or dished spring is disposed between the plate 15 and the handle 11 to assure such connection between the head and handle notwithstanding variation in the threaded engagement between the parts. By providing a rectangular cross section to the handle such proper alignment is very simply achieved or, alternatively, an index may be used. The spring 22. is desirably secured in some suitable manner to the plate 315' to avoid loss. If desired, a bayonet type connection may be employed whereby the desired alignment is of a posi tive character.

The interior of the handle 19 is hollow and includes a somewhat longer chamber 23 homologous with the ex.- terior configuration of the handle, i.e. rectangular, and a shorter chamber 24 adjacent the head end of the razor, although a chamber of constant transverse extent is within contemplation.

Chamber 24 is conformed to receive a switch El (FIGS. 1, 6, 7 and 8 which is responsive to the attitude of the razor. That is to say, when the shaving edge of the blade is horizontal the switch is closed. inasmuch as the invention contemplates both single and doubleedged razors such switch, in the case of a doubleedged razor, must be responsive in the same manner irrespective of the edge of the blade currently in use. Obviously, a switch so characterized is operable in the same manner when the blade is single-edged. A preferred form of switch comprises an envelope 32 of electrically insulating material, e.g. glass, of spherical interior configuration arranged to be snugly retained in the chamber 24. A pair of arcuate rod-like segments 3535, extending over an arc of substantially 45 on either side of a center line X-X, are positioned on the interior of the envelope 32 and held in position by leads 30-36 welded thereto and passing through a press 37 formed as part of the envelope. press 37 and is secured in position by basing cement 42. One lead 36 is soldered to the shell 41 and the other terminates in a contact button id. A globule 4d of mercury is free to move within the envelope 32 and is of such size as to bridge the segments 3d when the circuit is to be closed therethrough. Pins 45' 4-5 extend radially oppositely of the shell ll to serve as part of a bayonnet connection with a socket to be described. Thus the A metal shell 41 surrounds the switch 31 may be accurately oriented with respect to the longitudinal axis of the handle 11.

In order to provide a common ground for the several components of the circuit a removable metallic lining or casing 51 is arranged to adjoin at least two opposite interior faces 5252 of the body 19 (FIGS. 1 and 3) and to terminate inwardly adiacent the switch 31. At this end the casing is formed'with a reentrant cylindrical shell 54 having bayonet slots (not shown) to receive the pins 4545 of the switch 31 whereby this latter becomes part of the entire electrical assembly as will become apparent subsequently.

Rearwardly of the switch 31 there is located an electric lamp 58 of a common type, e.g. as used in flashlights including the customary lateral pins 61-61 and base connection 62. To support the bulb and to provide series connection thereof in the circuit there is provided a substantially U-shaped, resilient metal frame 65 (FIGS. 1, 4 and comprising side members 6666 and a re-entrant end member 67. This latter is abutted by the button 44 of the switch 31. The free ends of the members 66-66 are conformed concavo-convexly to receive frictionally the shell 69 of the lamp 5%. The members 66-66 are so arranged relative to the dimensions of the selected lamp and are of such degree of resiliency as to permit the pins 6161 to be held frictionally against the distal end of the members 61-61. Removal of the lamp is accomplished by twisting the same 90 from the position shown and forcing the shell 69 thereof through the members 66-66 at one side or the other thereof. Replacement is obviously the reverse. To facilitate this latter step the members 66-66 are flared slightly, as indicated at 63 in FIG. 4. Insulating pads '7272 are interposed between the members (mo-66 and the liner 51. In order that the illumination provided by the lamp 58 may be visible the body 19 may be of translucent plastic composition or a transparent or translucent window may be provided therein.

A dry or other type of cell 75 is received between the sides of the liner 51 (FIG. 3) rearwardly of the lamp 555. The negative pole 76 or shell of the cell abuts the base 62 of the lamp and the positive pole '77 abuts one terminal 78 of a switch 79 to be detailed. The cardboard shell 31 of the cell 75 serves to insulate the same from the metallic lining 51.

The on-off switch 79 may be of any type including a translationally movable actuating button 84 which, on

every alternate operation, will throw the switch to on and on each intermediate operation to off. Such switch may be permanently secured between the legs of the liner 51 in any convenient manner-or may be loose therebetween, being retained laterally by the walls of the chamber 23 and endwise by the tabs 91 bent inwardly from the liner 51. The switch blade 92 (FIG. 9) is adapted to make and break the circuit respectively upon every other actuation of the button 84. Switches to accomplish this function are well known and therefore details are deemed superfluous. The other connection to the switch 79 is through a terminal 95 abutted by one of the tabs 79.

To limit the degree of insertion of the liner 51 into the handle 11 there is provided a pair of tabs ill-dill bent outwardly from the liner to abut the end surface 112 of the body 19 or one may rely on abutment of the inner end wall of the liner 51 with the shoulder presented between the chambers 23 and 24. Although both are shown to present these possible alternatives it will be understood that, in the drawing, one is redundant.

Inasmuch as the razor will be rinsed in hot water during and following use the rearward end is desirably rendered waterproof by a tightly fitting, cap-shaped clo sure 12]. engaged with the body 19 by screw-threads 122.

The end 123 of the closure is made sufficiently thin to be flexible and thcrefore'may be deformed to apply oper ating force to the switgh button. 84.

From the foregoing it will have become obvious that replacement of any of the components 31, 58, 75 or 79 is easily accomplished by removing the closure 123i and extracting the lining 51 including all of the components carried thereby. Since these components are then readily accessible between the two sides of the lining 51 any one or more thereof is removable and replaceable without disturbing the remainder.

Operation is as follows: assuming the switch '79 to be closed the circuit to the lamps 53 may be completed only when one of the shaving edges is horizontal. Assuming further that the angle of the blade 16 with the face is approximately 45 a normally acceptable angle for shavim-the contact segments 35 will be as shown in FIG. 7 and the mercury globule 4-0 will be in its lowest position, or on a vertical plane Y-Y, due to gravity.

if the razor is now held so that the globule spans the pair of contacts 35 the circuit completed therethrough will cause the lamp to light. Since the globule will span the contacts 35 only when the edge of the blade 16 is horizontal the user will be made aware, by the glow visible through the wall of the handle, that the blade is now in the correct position for trimming the sideburns. A like situation prevails for the other side of the face, as indicated by the broken lines in FIG. 7.

It will be understood that the contact segments 35 may be located closely adjacent and the globule 49 made sufficiently small to span the same when the edge of the blade 16 is almost exactly horizontal. Obviously mechanical limitation on the construction and arrangement of the contacts and globule will mitigate against mathematically accurate attainment of horizontalism but such degree of exactness is not required in practice; an error of 2 to 3 being of no consequence.

in the event the angle of the blade with the face is less than 45 the switch 31 will function in the same manner. To obtain this result to the optimum extent the segments 35 may be of extremely small cross section or may be set into the glass or other wall of the envelope 311 to reduce interference with free rolling or sliding of the globule 4d.

The invention lends itself admirably to attachment as an accessory to razor handles of types other than the simple, well-known, original Gillette type. In these other cases the entire unit characterized as the handle 11, i.e., excluding the plates 14 and 15, the spring 22 and stud 17' may be provided with a resilient clip or clips 101 (FIG. 10) adapted for snap-type engagement over the handle in a specific orientation therewith, and with the same function as already described in connection with the example. By virtue of the miniature components and the novel arrangement thereof within the handle the bulk represented thereby is inconsequential. Moreover, since the attachment'wiil be used only for the sideburns it may be snapped into place for that operation only and then removed.

If desired a buzzer may be substituted for the lamp to provide an audible rather than a visual indication. In such event the general arrangement of the components and! the circuitry will be similar to that heretofore described. r

While I have shown particular embodiments of my invention, it will be understood, of course, that I do. not wish to be limited thereto since many modifications may be made and I, therefor, contemplate by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. In combination with a safety razor having a head carrying a blade with a straight shaving edge and an elongated handle perpendicular to the edge to mount the head, means to provide the user with an indication that the shaving edge is horizontal comprising: electricallyoperated means carried by said handle comprising a switch having gravity-operated universally-movable means coactive with a pair of spaced quadrantal segments extending over an arc of 45 on each side of the longitudinal axis of the handle to constitute fixed contact means, said segments being spaced apart symmetrically with respect to a vertical medial plane through said axis and said switch being responsive co-jointly to the position of the said plane in space and the shaving edge relative to a horizontal plane, indicating means and a source of current, said switch, indicating means and source being connected in a series circuit, said switch being adapted to be closed when the razor is in a position whereas the shaving edge is on a horizontal line and the said plane is vertical, the closing of the switch completing said series circuit to energize the indicating means.

2. The combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein said switch comprises an envelope having an interior wall of spherical configuration, and wherein said segments are rod-like elements adjoining said wall, and said movtable means is a globule of mercury retained in said envelope, said glob-ule having an average diameter at least equal to the space between said segments to bridge the same to close the circuit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Davis July 13, Wilhelm Dec. 26, Ever-ts Oct. 16, Connet July 15, Ford et al. Dec. 1, Weiss Mar. 14, Eells Mar. 13, Biniek May 26, Caporale Jan. 5, Stevens Aug. 19, Gaylord et a1 Mar. 27, Moore May 1, Lefiler May 8, Wolpert July 10, Smith Mar. 5, Lob et a1 July 1, 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A SAFETY RAZOR HAVING A HEAD CARRYING A BLADE WITH A STRAIGHT SHAVING EDGE AND AN ELONGATED HANDLE PERPENDICULAR TO THE EDGE TO MOUNT THE HEAD, MEANS TO PROVIDE THE USER WITH AN INDICATION THAT THE SHAVING EDGE IS HORIZONTAL COMPRISING: ELECTRICALLYOPERATED MEANS CARRIED BY SAID HANDLE COMPRISING A SWITCH HAVING GRAVITY-OPERATED UNIVERSALLY-MOVABLE MEANS COACTIVE WITH A PAIR OF SPACED QUADRANTAL SEGMENTS EXTENDING OVER AN ARC OF 45* ON EACH SIDE OF THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE HANDLE TO CONSTITUTE FIXED CONTACT MEANS, SAID SEGMENTS BEING SPACED APART SYMMETRICALLY WITH RESPECT TO A VERTICAL MEDIAL PLANE THROUGH SAID AXIS AND SAID SWITCH BEING RESPONSIVE CO-JOINTLY TO THE POSITION OF THE SAID PLANE IN SPACE AND THE SHAVING EDGE RELATIVE TO A HORIZONTAL PLANE, INDICATING MEANS AND A SOURCE OF CURRENT, SAID SWITCH, INDICATING MEANS AND SOURCE BEING CONNECTED IN A SERIES CIRCUIT, SAID SWITCH BEING ADAPTED TO BE CLOSED WHEN THE RAZOR IS IN A POSITION WHEREAS THE SHAVING EDGE IS ON A HORIZONTAL LINE AND THE SAID PLANE IS VERTICAL, THE CLOSING OF THE SWITCH COMPLETING SAID SERIES CIRCUIT TO ENERGIZE THE INDICATING MEANS. 